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Bluesky
Connecting a Bluesky account by its handle through Bluesky's own sign-in — no app password — what a Bluesky post carries, its human pace, the daily video allowance and reconnecting.
ChannelForge posts each episode to Bluesky as one post with the video, on the channel's slots — each at a minute of its own a little after the slot, the way a person posts. Bluesky is in every paid plan.
Before you connect#
- You need a Bluesky account, on Bluesky's own server or any other. No app password is needed: you sign in on your server's own page.
- Bluesky lets an account upload videos only once its email address is verified. Verify it in the Bluesky app's settings before your first post.
- Connecting needs the editor role or above. Disconnecting needs an admin or owner.
Connect#
- Open Settings → Connections. On the Bluesky card, type your handle — for example
name.bsky.socialor your own domain — or leave it empty for an account on bsky.social. You may also type thehttps://address of your server. - Press Connect. ChannelForge finds your account's server and sends you to its sign-in page.
- Sign in there. Bluesky asks you to allow ChannelForge to create posts and upload videos. Allow.
- Back on Connections, the account shows with its name and @handle. Link it to a channel under Which account each channel posts as.
ChannelForge asks Bluesky for as little as it can:
| It may | It may not |
|---|---|
| Create posts | Edit or delete posts |
| Upload the images and videos posts carry | Read or send direct messages |
| Ask Bluesky's video service for the day's upload allowance | See your email address or change your settings |
A server that does not offer these narrow permissions asks once more for Bluesky's general app permission instead.
What is posted#
| Part | What Bluesky receives |
|---|---|
| Video | The episode's file as it is when it is 100 MB or less, else a 720p copy; Bluesky takes videos of up to 10 minutes |
| Alt text | The episode's title and a short version of its description |
| Text | At most 300 characters, in one of a few shapes chosen per episode — the title with a short summary, the summary alone, the title alone, or the title with the channel's call to action — with up to two hashtags in most shapes |
| Never | A link, an @mention that would tag a stranger, a label of any kind |
The shapes vary from episode to episode, so a channel's posts never read as one template; a retry posts the very same words.
When it posts#
On the channel's slots, after the core platforms and Threads, before X — but never at the slot's own minute:
- each Bluesky post goes at a random minute and second 4 to 52 minutes after the slot;
- never within 6 minutes of the minute that account posted at the day before;
- at least 25 minutes from any other post on the same account, whichever channel it is for (two channels may share an account);
- at most 10 posts a day per account (UTC day). Past that, the slot records why and the episode keeps its tries.
When no minute of the window meets every rule, the least crowded one is used: a slot is never dropped for its timing.
Post now on the episode page sends it 20 seconds to 2 minutes after the click. Until it goes, a waiting post is listed in Activity as queued.
The daily video allowance#
Bluesky gives each account a daily allowance of videos and bytes. ChannelForge reads it before each upload: an account that has used it, or that may not upload yet (an email address not verified), waits about 6 hours — nothing is sent and no try is used.
Never twice#
Each attempt's place on your account is chosen and kept before the post is made, and Bluesky refuses a second post in the same place. When an answer was lost, the next try reads that place first: the post is there, it is recorded; it is not there and the attempt is over 10 minutes old, it is posted in the same place. Look for it, then retry on the episode page does this at once.
Reconnecting#
A Bluesky connection lasts up to two years, renewed by itself as it posts; an account that does not post for 180 days needs connecting again. When Bluesky refuses a renewal, the account is marked for reconnecting: type the handle again on the Bluesky card and press Add. The same account is updated, and its channel link stays.
Good to know#
- Bluesky posts are counted, but their numbers are not read: the Analytics page shows "no metrics yet" for them.
- A channel that chose no platforms under Post to posts to Bluesky too, once an account is linked.
Troubleshooting#
"no Bluesky account answers to @… — check the handle". Check the spelling; a custom-domain handle must be the one your Bluesky profile shows.
"Too many tries — wait a few minutes". Ten connection attempts are allowed per person every 10 minutes.
"Bluesky asks the account to verify its e-mail address first". Verify it in the Bluesky app; the post waits about 6 hours and then tries again.
"the account has … Bluesky posts today (UTC)". The account reached its 10 posts for the day; the next goes tomorrow.
Related#
- Schedules and autopilot — human-like timing
- Threads
- Privacy at a glance
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